Guitar in Worship
by Wes Ardis on Sep.06, 2010, under Band Blogs
Why do all modern worship guitarists play the same style?
Though I don’t subscribe to this belief, it seems to be a popular discontentment in my line of work. I have some thoughts about this argument that I feel like I should share…
First of all, as a guitarist, I can better distinguish between my favorite worship guitarists, since I have so much invested in the art form and I pay much more attention to nuance. I’m not trying to say that I’m better, or more cultured than anyone. The latter, I’m sure is almost laughable. I’m just saying I study this stuff under a microscope while most simply use it as a means for worshipping Jesus (the point of it all). So it’s hard for me to empathize with folks who say, “All you guys just sound like U2″.
This question leads to the overarching question, “For that matter, why does most popular modern worship music seem to have such a narrow range of genre?” I will agree that the style of guitar playing, as well as the musical genre, is very focused – possibly too much so. But I perceive the motive behind this to be very valid.
To begin stating my case, I’ll choose an example genre that I can most easily get away with picking on: HAIR METAL!!!!! This genre is a fast-paced sort that is electromagnetically charged to attract tight neon-colored stage costumes, the fastest guitar solos that a MIDI keyboard has ever played, and lyrics filled with womanizing and not-quite-satanic-but-really-wish-they-were limericks. Now obviously, as long as our culture has associations between the sounds and rhythms of HAIR METAL!!!!! and it’s myriad of social faux pas, we shouldn’t be putting God-fearing lyrics to the tune of “Welcome to the Jungle” in our corporate worship services. Worship shouldn’t be corporately expressed with a musical style that largely brings derogatory or tempting thoughts, by way of association, to the worshippers’ minds.
So that’s the first part of my case, but what is it about the neon spandex and the shredding MIDI guitar solos that cause this genre not to lend itself to worship? It’s the amount of showmanship, not only on the stage, but in the very music itself, that makes worship of Jesus (the point of it all) less accessible through this medium. This is where other genres, ones far less-frowned-upon than hair metal, can also become less effective in corporate worship. Subjectively, many people may have problems singing songs of praise to God in certain genres because of the rich musical complexity, showmanship or creative genius that causes them to stand in awe of the songs themselves rather than the Creator of all music. Worship guitarists, likewise, constantly wrestle with our egos to keep our playing simple, while maintaining a sound that reflects the power, presence and grandeur of God.
We shouldn’t all sound like U2, but the songs we play absolutely must be opaque enough to see Jesus through them. We don’t want our songs to be sung TO, we want our songs to be sung THROUGH.
WELCOME TO THE CHAPEL
D
Welcome to the Chapel
D
We got love and praise
D
He’s got everything we want
D
Honey, He knows our names
A
This is the place that you can find
A
Groups of communities
A
Anointing oil made of honey
A
Might attract some bees
Chorus:
F
In the Chapel
G
Welcome to the Chapel
Worship brings you to your
A
Shananananananananananana
Knees, knees
Mwah!
You better watch those BEES!
…That’s all I got.
4 Comments for this entry
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September 7th, 2010 on 2:29 pm
Hullo there Wes–your old Fuller friend here. Quite the interesting post on a very significant subject.
I’m especially thinking about the capacity of different genres to “carry” the content of the gospel. You make sort of the same point with your hair metal illustration–we don’t use hair metal because it is unsuitable for carrying themes of sin, redemption, holiness, and grace. Tis true.
But, to play a bit of the devil’s advocate–does the guitar have the capacity to carry the gospel? Can it?
Is there a reason why at most funerals we dress a certain way and play a certain genre? I think it’s due to the fact that we recognize (by common grace/natural law) that certain experiences are more significant/sacred than others. (I’m thinking primarily of Sunday worship at this point.)
So I suppose my question is this: Is the guitar appropriate to a wedding service/feast between the risen Christ and his Bride? Can I be told that I am a sinner, a failure–AND–that I am in Christ a son/daughter?
Cause hair metal’s really good at condemnation. And I guess harps might be pretty good at lofty ethereal music. But fewer are the instruments/media that can give a full range of spiritual understanding.
(And yes, I didn’t do any of the leg-work in establishing that Christians meeting on Sunday *is* a wedding feast. If you’d like me to do so, just let me know.)
These are very very rough thoughts from a non-musician. Comments/questions/confusion are welcome.
September 7th, 2010 on 8:37 pm
Hey John. Great to hear from ya, old friend!
Something I didn’t really have the time to stress in the blog is that I believe everyone has the right to worship God with any musical style that causes them to behold Him as worthy of worship. Even if that’s hair metal for a certain individual, they should feel free to sit and rewrite words to hair metal songs and use them for worship. But good luck finding an entire church body who can rationally agree that they best connect with God in that way, without feeling distracted or disconnected from worship because of the stigma around the genre.
Back to your question – A guitar can’t pronounce one’s sin or inheritance any more than wedding bells can pronounce someone man and wife. As a guitarist, it’s not my job to convict of sin, or to tell of one’s new place in the body of Christ. That’s the job of the song lyrics and the sermon. My job is to create an atmosphere that portrays the emotional image of whatever message is being conveyed – like illustrations in a book.
In light of that, I would never condemn a certain musical instrument from worship, or even corporate worship for that matter. Of course, some instruments may not be useful for getting every feeling across, but in the case of the guitar, with it’s comprehensive frequency range, as well as the range of different possible sounds and playing styles, it is useful to complement most any message being conveyed; to the congregants, or to God.
October 13th, 2010 on 11:24 pm
One word: Stryper!!!
July 25th, 2011 on 7:37 pm
Interesting discussion. As a 41 year old electric guitarist in my church’s main and youth praise teams, I can see both sides. I’d like to do some old school “Crazy Train” or “Back In Black” with edifying lyrics. But I’m sure that if I heard one of these types of songs with Christian lyrics, it would still be bringing me back to my days of not being a Christian and singing and playing the original songs.
In the end, God knows my heart when man does not. But my job is to lead others in without distraction. I have to check my own wants at the door and be a servant of an almighty God.